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Ride the Drive back for 2 events in 2013

March 22, 2013

The City of Madison and Madison Parks are pleased to bring Ride the Drive, presented by Trek, back for its fifth year! We will be hosting Ride the Drive-Downtown on June 2nd from 10am to 3pm and Ride the Drive Westside August 18th from 10am - 3pm.

Ride the Drive was inspired by the Ciclovia in Bogota, Colombia, where city streets are closed to car traffic to allow people to participate in all kinds of free health and community-oriented events. In celebration of Madison's commitment to bicycling and healthy lifestyles, Madison hosted its first Ride the Drive in 2009. After four years of successful events, we are proud to continue this Madison tradition.

Ride the Drive is a community event that turns Madison's signature streets into a public promenade that is open to cyclists, walkers, rollerbladers, and residents out to enjoy car-free streets. These popular events have drawn over 20,000 attendees. Ride the Drive is more than just a bike ride - with music, activities, and fun stopping points along the way - there is something for everyone.

The Downtown route will be the same as last year's, featuring the iconic streets downtown is known for, including Capitol Square, East Washington, and John Nolen Drive. The Westside Ride the Drive will have more of a Block Party feel, highlighting the neighborhoods surrounding Regent St. and South Hill Dr. Complete maps of the Ride the Drive Routes can be found on the Ride the Drive Website.

There are many different ways for the community to get involved in this year's Ride the Drive. Corporations are welcome to help sponsor the event, while local businesses and organizations can host an activity or have a booth along the route. There are also many volunteer opportunities for individuals to get involved. And of course, we invite all to come out and Ride the Drive. The event is free and open to the public.

For a list of all the volunteer roles available and more information about Ride the Drive, please visit the website.